ORANGE HALL

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A free-standing two-storey three-bay polychromatic brick Orange Hall, built c.1880, located on the junction of Sullivan Place and Hibernia Street in the centre of Holywood. Rectangular on plan with single-storey flat-roof modern brick extension to rear (of no interest).

Pitched natural slate roof with corbelled brick gable verges; red brick chimneys having yellow brick dressings. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on dentilled brick eaves. Walling is English Garden wall bonded red brick with yellow brick dressings; rubble stone and brick to rear; smooth render to south: yellow brick string course to first floor; ovolo moulded and pierced string course to ground floor. Windows are segmental-headed 2/2 timber-framed sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars; continuous yellow brick sills to first floor. First floor windows with decorative yellow brick arches and label mould; ground floor windows with yellow and blue brick voussoirs in pointed relieving arches.

The principal elevation faces west and is three openings wide. To centre at ground floor is entrance door in recessed brick surround; modern timber door with sidelight to left surmounted by segmental-headed transom light.

The north elevation has three windows to ground floor; two segmental-headed windows to first floor; decorative polychromatic roundel with fixed wrought-iron star to upper gable.

The east (rear) elevation is partially concealed by neighbouring building. Modern timber entrance door (fire escape) with masonry steps to first floor; window to left. Ground floor is abutted by modern brick extension (of no interest) with entrance onto Redburn Square.

The south elevation is blank.

Setting

Corner-sited; large modern building to rear; single-storey flat-roof modern building to south. Decorative gate and iron railings on low stone wall to front.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: brick
Windows: timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

According to the Holywood Old School Preservation Trust, the Orange Hall in Holywood was built in 1879-82 to designs by William Batt, but the basis for this attribution is not stated. (www.holywoodoldschool.com)

The Belfast Newsletter attributes Fitzgibbon Louch as the architect, the foundation stone of the hall being laid on July 15th 1872 and the hall being formally opened in 1879. (Belfast Newsletter July 15th 1872 and 30th December 1881).

The ‘Orange Hall’ is first listed in the valuation fieldbook dating from 1867 to 1879. It is ‘in progress’ and no valuation is given. By 1882 the hall has been completed and is valued at £18. The occupiers are the ‘Trustees Orange Hall’ and it is leased from John Harrison. In 1887 Thomas Scott is added to the listing as caretaker. The Street directory for 1884 calls the hall a ‘plain but substantial building’. (Belfast and Ulster Street Directory)

Today, a number of lodges meet in Holywood, some of which have been in existence for many years. The building of the lodge was promoted by Holywood Royal Standard (LOL 1906) founded in 1868. The lodge met in what is now the Heasley Hall in Church View until the new building had been completed. (www.holywoodoldschool.com) According to Auld, LOL 1687 was first registered in Lisburn in 1823 and was meeting in Holywood by 1856, within the Belfast District. A Holywood District was established in 1884. This lodge is known as McCammon’s True Blues, in memory of Lt Col TVP McCammon who was Commanding Officer of the Royal Irish Rifles and died in action in France in 1917. (Auld, p.138)

Crozier Memorial Temperance (LOL1362) is named in memory of John Baptist Crozier (1853-1920), a former Rector of Holywood who was afterwards Archbishop of Armagh.

Two Royal Black Preceptories meet at the hall, Holywood, RBP 177 and Joshua’s Chosen Few RBP 174. Holywood Women’s Lodge Number 4 are also accommodated. Colonel Henry Baker, Governor of Londonderry is remembered by the Apprentice Boys of Derry Holywood Baker Club.

The Orange Order has granted use of the hall to many bodies, including the Petty Sessions Court and the local Social Security Agency. (Auld, p.138)

The building received a major refurbishment in 1964 when a main entrance was opened onto Redburn Square and the entrance onto Sullivan Place closed up. (Auld, p.138)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
5. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866)
6. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900)
7. Belfast and Ulster Street Directory, 1884

Secondary Sources

1. Auld, C. “Holywood Co Down, Then and Now” Holywood: Con Auld, 2002
2. www.holywoodoldschool.com
3. Belfast Newsletter July 15th 1872 and 30th December 1881

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Two-storey three-bay polychromatic brick Orange Hall, built c.1880. In close proximity to a group of halls (see also McCammon Memorial Hall, HB23/20/082). Architectural detailing in decorative polychromatic treatment to the façade is unusual in a hall of this type. The setting has been affected by roadworks and adjacent development. The hall is of interest as an unusual and idiosyncratic composition by Fitzgibbon Louch.